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College Basketball Player Protest of American Flag Angers War Veteran
Aired February 24, 2003 - 14:40 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Anti-war sentiment turns up in women's collegiate basketball believe it or not. A New York player is getting attention for her refusal to face the U.S. flag during the pledge. And at least one veteran is outraged.
News 12 reporter Matt Murphy has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATT MURPHY, NEWS 12: Just minutes into Sunday afternoon's Manhattanville College women's basketball game in Purchase, Jerry Kiley, a Vietnam war veteran, interrupted play and was quickly escorted out of the gym. The quick exit came after Kiley approached senior Toni Smith, asking her not to protest against the American flag, which she had done right before tipoff by turning her back to it during the singing of the "National Anthem."
JERRY KILEY, VIETNAM WAR VETERAN: Toni Smith disgraced this flag and disrespected the veterans who have fought and died, the women and men, brave women and men who fought and died to defend the freedom that this flag stands for. This flag does not stand for government policy. It stands for freedom. It stands for honor.
MURPHY: She's been turning her back against the flag since the beginning of the season. It wasn't until Manhattanville traveled to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kingspoint when her stance gained attention. She was jeered by hundreds of spectators at that game on February 11. She didn't want to speak on camera choosing to explain through written statements statement.
In it, she says quote, "The equities that are embedded into the American system have bothered me, as they are becoming progressively worst. And it is clear the government's priorities are not on bettering the quality of life for all it's people, rut rather on expanding it's own power. I can no longer in good conscience salute the flag."
Whether students agree or disagree with Smith, many believe she has the right to express her views in the way she has chosen. But nearly all the students News 12 spoke with disagree with the way Kiley choose to exercise his freedom of speech.
IAN SCHRAIER, FRESHMAN: Well, I saw the man run out from the side exit, brought out the American flag, put it right in front of her face. That was definitely wrong. That was the wrong thing to do.
MARY CORRARINO, COLLEGE SENIOR V.P.: I'm always concerned when people walk on the campus. He had been turned away from the campus several times and apparently walked on. And we're a 100-acre campus, so you can get on the campus if you want. But he's entitled to his opinion but he's not entitled to be on private property and this is private property.
MURPHY: Kiley, was later escorted off the campus and asked not to return.
KILEY: I'm a Vietnam veteran, I'll suffer the consequences just like Tony is now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: The School president, Richard Berman (ph) say he supports her right whether or not he agrees with her.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
War Veteran>
Aired February 24, 2003 - 14:40 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Anti-war sentiment turns up in women's collegiate basketball believe it or not. A New York player is getting attention for her refusal to face the U.S. flag during the pledge. And at least one veteran is outraged.
News 12 reporter Matt Murphy has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATT MURPHY, NEWS 12: Just minutes into Sunday afternoon's Manhattanville College women's basketball game in Purchase, Jerry Kiley, a Vietnam war veteran, interrupted play and was quickly escorted out of the gym. The quick exit came after Kiley approached senior Toni Smith, asking her not to protest against the American flag, which she had done right before tipoff by turning her back to it during the singing of the "National Anthem."
JERRY KILEY, VIETNAM WAR VETERAN: Toni Smith disgraced this flag and disrespected the veterans who have fought and died, the women and men, brave women and men who fought and died to defend the freedom that this flag stands for. This flag does not stand for government policy. It stands for freedom. It stands for honor.
MURPHY: She's been turning her back against the flag since the beginning of the season. It wasn't until Manhattanville traveled to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kingspoint when her stance gained attention. She was jeered by hundreds of spectators at that game on February 11. She didn't want to speak on camera choosing to explain through written statements statement.
In it, she says quote, "The equities that are embedded into the American system have bothered me, as they are becoming progressively worst. And it is clear the government's priorities are not on bettering the quality of life for all it's people, rut rather on expanding it's own power. I can no longer in good conscience salute the flag."
Whether students agree or disagree with Smith, many believe she has the right to express her views in the way she has chosen. But nearly all the students News 12 spoke with disagree with the way Kiley choose to exercise his freedom of speech.
IAN SCHRAIER, FRESHMAN: Well, I saw the man run out from the side exit, brought out the American flag, put it right in front of her face. That was definitely wrong. That was the wrong thing to do.
MARY CORRARINO, COLLEGE SENIOR V.P.: I'm always concerned when people walk on the campus. He had been turned away from the campus several times and apparently walked on. And we're a 100-acre campus, so you can get on the campus if you want. But he's entitled to his opinion but he's not entitled to be on private property and this is private property.
MURPHY: Kiley, was later escorted off the campus and asked not to return.
KILEY: I'm a Vietnam veteran, I'll suffer the consequences just like Tony is now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: The School president, Richard Berman (ph) say he supports her right whether or not he agrees with her.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
War Veteran>
